Former Spanish Defense Minister: Accusing Morocco of spying on Sanchez is irresponsible

He is a lawyer, a former prominent member of the Spanish PSOE party, and currently works for the Spanish government. José Bono Martinez is, above all, the former Minister of Defense of Spain and the former head of the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI), the Spanish intelligence and counterintelligence service. The question of the Sahara, like Moroccan-Spanish relations, he is an expert. He is a great defender of the rapprochement between Rabat and Madrid. This, even in a time of tension between the two capitals.

Today, he says he is satisfied and happy with Spain’s strong support for the Sahara autonomy option proposed by Morocco. I think the Spanish government’s decision is very positive. I have already said myself, some time ago, that this should be the only way forward to resolve the conflict which must be resolved in the interest of the citizens and the Sahrawis above all,” he asserts – in this interview with Le360.

The formula offered by Morocco to resolve the conflict is probably the most viable, and most capable of it. It is also necessary to explain to the most radical what is possible and what is not. Fighting for something impossible, in my view, is absurd, ”the interviewer adds.

For him, Morocco is an important nation “for Spain and Europe”. In this, it reinforces Morocco’s role, both in combating terrorism and in managing migration to Europe. I have been in charge of intelligence in Spain for two years, and although I cannot give details, I am not lying if I say that we prevented terrorist attacks that could have been very serious in casualties thanks to the Moroccan intelligence services,” he testifies.

Jose Bono Martinez does not hide his anger at the accusations made by some media that Morocco spied on the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, Via the Israeli Pegasus program. “Accusation without evidence is a crime in itself. Therefore, accusing Morocco of spying on Pedro Sanchez is a serious matter… It seems to me that it is completely irresponsible. Moreover, Morocco is an ally and friend country,” he points out.